Goldman's at cutting edge for staff benefits

By our City staff

12:01AM GMT 12 Feb 2008

Just when bankers are most in need of their balls, it turns out Goldman Sachs is letting staff get rid of theirs.

Literally. The "masters of the universe" investment bank is providing staff with "sex reassignment surgery" as part of its medical benefits. Health insurance at Goldwoman's, as some wags are calling it, covers the actual surgery, as well as the drugs and testosterone injections required pre- and post-op.

So how many sex changes has Goldman's financed? "I don't know," says a spokesman, rather disappointingly, before adding: "We're a fervent believer in diversity." Perhaps it's the only way the testosterone-fuelled bank can get more women in the workplace.

Busking for Brett

Rumours reach me from the ski slopes of Switzerland that the stepson of one of Britain's most famous retailers has been splashing his cash.

Brett Palos, stepson to Sir Philip Green and an entrepreneur in his own right, was reportedly in glamorous Verbier earlier this month taking ski lessons from an instructor described by one local as "Swedish, dark and very pretty".

Repairing to a local hostelry for lunch after his lesson, sources tell me that Palos coaxed his beautiful instructor into a rendition of Elton John's My Song for the assembled diners. The reward? £400, counted out in crisp £50 notes. Brings a whole new meaning to singing for your dinner.

Reding roams on cue

Viviane Reding has lived up to her reputation as the bête noire of the telecoms industry. Asked about roaming charges at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona arranged to discuss clamping down on the spread of internet child pornography, she was prevented from answering by an over-enthusiastic moderator determined to stick to the script.

CAA still flying blind

I note the parties responsible for the singular performance of London's airports have been meeting again to discuss how they can continue their good work.

Under the auspices of the Civil Aviation Authority's review into economic regulation, 10 representatives from airport operator BAA, five from airline trade bodies IATA and BAR-UK, seven from various Airport Operator Committees and the London Airports Consultative Committee (whatever that is), six people from British Airways, four from Virgin Atlantic and three from BMI flocked together for some blue-sky thinking.

As business group London First points out, only one interest group was missing: passengers. "But the review was open to everyone," protests a CAA press officer. "We published the fact on our website."

And where exactly was this invitation? "In Section 1.16, page 19 of consultation document Heathrow and Gatwick Airports CAA Price, published last November." Oh, of course, silly us.

City grandees gathered in Islington yesterday to pay their respects to legendary Hermes fund manager Alastair Ross Goobey, who has died aged 62. Among those attending were ex-FSA chairman Howard Davies, former Chancellor Norman Lamont and M&S chairman Lord Burns. Life-long friend Colin Luke recalled Ross Goobey wearing a particular polo-neck sweater so often that it became known in the Luke household as a "Goobey". Luke also recalled the pair creating board games, which they played down the telephone. A memorial service will held be at the end of April.